Machine for treating belts



Nov. 5, 1929.

A. .1. coLLjNs MACHINE FOR TREATING BELTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 14, 1927 .EMM l 'noauto/a anouwg A. J. COLLINS MACHINE Fon TREATING BELTS Filed Maroh14. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 5, 1929.

Nov. 5, 1,9129. A. J. coLLlNs MACHINE FOR TREATING BELTS Filed March 14. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet C auoxmufd Nov. 5, 1929. A. J. coLLlNs MACHINE FOR TREATING BELTS Filed March A14. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 es shown Patented Nov. 5., 1929 PATENT OFFICE `ARTHUR L COLLINS, 0F DETROIT, MICHGAN MACHINE Fon TREATING BELTS ppi-mation fued March 14, 1927. Serial No.' 175,368.

The invention relates to leather working machines and particularly to machines for `finishing belts,` straps and similar articles. The invention deals particularly with a machine which kwill with one passage ot the strap through the machine perform various operations upon the strap for finishing the same. Heretofore the various operations above referred to were accoi'nplished only after pass- O ingfthe strap through a. nuifnber ot operations performed by hander by a plurality ot separate machines. This particular arrangement involvedfan expensive and uni-iatistactory met lod. The present invention contemplates eliminating these disadvantages by cenibining into one machine means whereby the edges oit the strap may be trimmed7 burnished and dyed.

rllhe invention contemplates other objects,

zo advantages and many novel details of construction, all of which will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a top plan view of the machine embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 oit Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 14H4 ot Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure' G is a sectional view 'taken on line 6 6' of Figure 1;

Figure '.7 isa sectional view taken on the line 7 7 ont Figure 1;

Figure' 8 is a sectional view taken substantiailv oni the line 8 8 of Figure 1;

Figure t) a sectional view taken on the line Sli-9 of Figure 1 Figure 10 is anv end elevation of the machine; y.

Figure 11 is a detailed perspective view i' one the cutters and the particular means `for adjusting the amount or0 trim;

li ure 12 is a. sectional view ta.

Cii

ire substantially onv the line ,l2-12 of Figure 1;

Figure 13 is a sectional View taken on the line 13e-130i Figure 1;

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken on the line 14-14 of Figure 12;

Figure 15 is a top plan view of the receiving mechanism;

Figures 16 and 17 are detailed views of the 55 adjustable bracket bearing.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1 indicates the frame of the ma- 60 chine having a base 2 and a table 3 supported y above the base by suitable uprights 4 and 5 arranged at opposite ends of the frame. The table 5 is preferably rectangular and is provided with a longitudinally extending way 6 secured to the upper face of the table and constituting a support 'for the conveyor chain 7. The conveyor chain is preferably an endless chain and is mounted upon sprocket wheels S and 9, which in turn are mounted on the shafts 1() and 11 journaled in the uprightmembers 4 and respectively. The sprocket wheel 8, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings; is formed with a pair oi anges 12 disposed upon opposite sides of and hav- 75 ing a substantially greeted diameter than the sprocket so as' to extend into close proximity to a guide roll 13 keyed to the shaft 14. This latter shaft is preferably power driven and has mounted upon one end 'thereof a gear 80 15 meshing with and driven by a gear 16 mounted on the shaft 10. Positioned sub-- stantially below this shaft is a third shaft 17 journaled in the upright member 4 and carrying the pulley 18. The shaft 17 is also 85 power driven and is provided with a gear 19 meshing' with the gear 1G. A belt 2O eX- tends around the pulley 18 and around the pulley k21 loosely mounted on the shaft 22 carried by the upright member 5. The pulley 21 is held from longitudinal movement with respect to the shaft by means of collars 22. A second belt 23 is arranged below the belt 2O and extends around the pulleys 24 and carried respectively by the upright members 4 and 5'. The pulleys 24 and 25, as shown in Figures 12 and 1.3 of the drawings, are preferably frictionallydriven; owing to the tact that the belt 23 frictionally engages the power driven belt 20. For driving the 1Go mechanism heretofore set forth a pulley 26 is mounted upon a shaft 2"? rotatively and slidably mounted within the shaft 28 and carrying at the forward end there f a isuitable clutch member 29. The shaft Q8 is joui'- naled in bracket bearings 30 and Si mounted upon the base 2 of the machine ard carries at the forward end thereof a clutch member 32 engageable with the clutch member 29 for actuating the shaft. Journaled upon the shaft 28 is a pair of sprocket wneels i connected resp @tively by means of the sprocket chains 35 and t the sprocket wheels 37 and 38 mounted upon the ends of theshafts l0 and ll respectively.

The device for receiving and starting a stra-p in the machine is shown best in igures e and l5 and comprises a pair of plates and el spaced from each other a suiicient distance to allow the straps to pass therebetween. rl-he particular means for securi the plates in spaced relation to each other, as shown in Figure lo, comprises the spacer members and e3, which in addition to performing the above function serves to initially guide the strap into the machine. rEhe plate i lonnit `inal- -i is preferably formed with i. i ig ly extending slot providing an unobstr ucted passage for the conveyor chain 'l'. rlie edge to of the plate il terminates short of the guide roll 13 and is formed with a pair of spaced slots or passages Lltl, allowing the barbs al, which are formed integral with one of the links of the chain T, to pass therethrough. in like manner the guide roller i3 is formed with circumferential grooves 'e7' for permitting the passage of the barbs 4:7.. For limiting the amount of initial feed of the strap a pair of dogs d8 and Li9 are disposed between the plates 4l and 50 directly in rear of the top plate e0. fis shown, these dogs are pivotally mounted upon the bottom plates el. lhe dogs #L8 and a9 are yieldably held against the rear edges of the spacers and 43 by means of the springs 52 and 58 positioned below thplate il and having one end anchored thereto and the opposite end secured to tie downwardly extendingl projections 5e and 55 respectively on the dogs #i8 tit and a9. lll' h this arrangement the strap is fed into the machine until the forward edge thereof engages the dogs il@ and and held in this position until the barbs pierce one end of the strap., 'whereupon the dogs are forced outwardly to permit the conveyance of the strap through the machine. will be noted from Figure l of the drawings that the dogs not only function as a stop for the strap, but also yieldably engage the side edges of the strap for preventing any lateral movement thereof. ny tendency of the strap to buckle also prevented by reason of the power driven guide roll 18 contacting with the top edge of the strap substantially throughout the width thereof.

,ses

rlEhe first operation on the strap after it is fed into the machine is the trimming. This operation is accomplished by two separate devices similar in construction but mounted upon opposite sides of the table and adapted to trim the opposite edges of the belt. As shown in Figure l of the drawings7 a pair of knives and 5T having cutting edges 5S are adj'usta ly mounted upon the table of the machine on opposite sides of the strap by means of the slotted brackets 59 and studs 60 secured to the table and engageable in o slots of said brackets. rhese knives are ureierably spaced longitudinally from each an are formed with longitudinally grooves 6l in the inner faces thereient width to receive the side edges Thus the cutters in addition to triiniiiing ti e edges of the strap also assis g* iding the strap during the trimming opeix on. or supporting the strap through the trimming operation a pair of plates G2 and G3 are mounted upon the table on opposite sides oi' the ways 6 and as shown in re 5 of the drawings7 these plates are :termed with a pair or" ways Se, the upper edges of which project beyond the ways 6 a suli'icient dis nce to permit the strap to clear e chain 7.

om buckling or weaving, I provide the Lpon the brackets 69 and TO secured to the table upon opposite sides of the strap. rlie guide rollsto and are spaced from the ways a siifiicient distance to permit the passage of the strap and are formed with circumferential grooves 7l through which the barbs pass. l? or insuring' an even trim upon both sides of the strap the guide rollers and 66 are formed with flanges 72 and 73 respectively arranged to engage the opposite edges of the strap directly opposite the cutting edges 58 or" the cutters 56 and 57. .i are positioned between the ianges '.72 and 73 and their respective brackets 69 and 7G for normally urging the flanges into engagement with the opposite edges of the strap and consequently urging the strap into engagement with the cutters 56 and 57. These springs, however, are not of sulh'cient strength to move the strap into engagement with the cutters with any degree of force, but merely eilert an even pressure upon the flanges and accordingly on the strap to insure a proper trim upon the side edges thereof. For adjusting the amount of trim a pair of blocks .75 and 7G are pivoted upon the table on opposite sides of the strap. its shown in Figure ll, these blocks are formed with undercut portions forming shoulders 7'? adapted to engage the strap for guiding the same preparatory to the trimming operation inasn orner to prevent the strap muchl as tlieblocks are positioned yforwardly ofthe cutters. For accomplishing the adjustment of the blocks I'provide the adjusting screws 78 and 79 threadedly engaging the upstanding flanges 80 and 81 respectively of the plates 62 and 63. rlhe ends of the adjusting screws are adaptedr to engage the outer faces of the blocks'at a point substantially otlfset from the pivote 82 and 83. Thus when it is desired to decrease the amount of trim, the blocks '75 and 76 are rocked about their pivots by means of the adjusting screws 7S and 79, thus moving the strap against the tension of the springs 74 in a direction away from the cutters.

Thefnext operation to be performed upon the strap is the burnishing and roundino` of the trimmed edges. The particular meenanism for accomplishing this result comprises a plurality of burnishiirg` Wheels SLL arranged upon opposite sides of the strap and having circumferential grooves in the periphery thereof engageable with the edges of the strap. fis shown in Figures 2, the burnishino- Wheels are mounted upon the upper ends of the vertical shafts 86 revolubly cont:"ned Within the bracket bearings 87 adjust-ably and pivotally mounted upon opposite sides of the table by means of the pivot pins 89. vWith this particular arrangement. the distance between the oppositely disposed burnishing Wheels 84 is automatically adjusted by the passing strap. In other Words, if a strap is conveyed through they machine having a slightly greater Width than the standard strap, the burnishing wheels will be .forced outwardly against the tension of the springs 90. For limiting the inward movement of the burnishing Wheels adjustable stops 90 threadedly engage the brackets and abut against the opposite edges of the table. For actuating the burinshiru.;l Whe 3ls l provide the spiral gears 91 mounted upon the lower ends of the vertical shaft S6 and meshing With the spiral gears 92 ournaled upon the horizontal shafts 93. The shafts 93, four in number, preferably ent-end trausverselyy of and beneath the table 3 and arejournaled in the dcpending bracket bearings 94: secured to the table. las will be noted from Figure 3 the shafts 93 are operatn'ely connected to each other by means of sprocket Wheels 95 and sprocket chains 96. @ne of these shafts 93 preferably projects beyond the table of the machine and has mounted thereon a gear 97 meshing ivitha gear 98 mounted on the shaft 28k The gear 9S; as shown, is considerably larger than tbe gear 97. Consegquently the shaft upon whichthe gear 97 mounted is rotated ata substantially higher velocity than the shaft 2S and inasmuch as the ratio between the sprockets 33e-37 and 342-88 for' driving the conveyor chain7 is smaller than the'ratio between thegears 98 and 97, the burnishing Wheels will be driven slml'ts 98, which infturn are )our ruled in adr e able bracket bearings 99. These bracke' bearings are similar in construction to the bracket bearings 87 and are pivotall7 se-r cau'ed on the table 3 by suitable pivot pins 100. Thus it Will be see that the bracket bearings 99 are also automatically adjustable. Consequently any slight variation in the Width of the strap is compensated for by the passing strap. Mounted upon the upper ends of the brackets 99 and surrounding the'rollers 97 are suitable troughs 101 having depressed portions 102 adapted to receive Athe dye.

Mounted Within the depressed portions 102 directly in front of and contacting with the rollers 97 aro rsuitable dye-carrying rolls 103. kThese rolls as Well as the rolls 97 are provided with an absorbent run, lVith this arrangement the rollers 102 will absorb a certain amount of dye and distribute it to the rollers 97', which are yieldably forced against the edges of the strap by reason of the coil springs 10st' having trie opposite ends thereof anchored upon the table and bracket respectively. Thus 'the dye is evenly distributed upon the of the strap. As shown in Fig. 8, the inner edges of the trough constitute a seat Yfor the strap thror the coloring process. The shafts 98 p ably have mounted upon the lower ends of the pulleys 105. The particular means for driving the pulleys 105, and consequently the rolls 97', is shown best in Figures 2, 3 and 8 and comprises a 106 mounted upon one end ofthe shaft 11 and meshing With the "ear 107 keyed upon the shaft 108 journals-lr i., ugnight member 5. The shaft 108 is o p rovided with ay sprocket Wheel 109 connected to a sprocket 110 mounted upon the shaft by means of a chain 111. Secured to th end of the shaft 22 is a spi ral gear 112i ing With a spiral gear 113 mounted upon the vertical shaft 1141 having one end journaled in a bracket 115 and the oppos `o end journaled in the table and provided 1with a pulley 116 arranged in substantially the e plane as the pulleys 105 and connected t to by means of the continuous belt 117.

This belt is provided with suflicient play to permit the desired adjustment of the rollers 97. The rollers 97 are adapted to revolve at a much slower rate of speed than the speed of the passing strap inasmuch as the gear 107 mounted upon the shaft 10S is considerably larger than the gear 106 mounted upon the shaft 11. For holding the strap in horizonles tal position von the conveyor chain 7 as it is being conveyed through the burnishing and dyeing mechanism, l provide a holding belt 118 engaging the top face of the strap and extending around the pulleys 119, 120 and 121. rhe pulley 119, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, is mounted directly above the strap on the shaft 122 journaled in a bracket 1:43 secured to the table ot the machine torwardly orp the burnishing wheels Se. The second pulley 120 is journaled upon a shaft 1241 positioned substantially to the rear ot the upright 5 in direct alignment with the pulley atoresai l. Suitable brackets 126 are secured to the upright member 5 for supporting the shaft 124e. rlhe third pulley 121 is j ournaled upon the shaft 108. `With this arrangement the strap is accurately guided during its travel about the sprocket 9. ris shown in Figure 12 of the drawings, the means for detieining and separating' the strap from the conveyor chain 7 comprises a detlector 128 secured to the front :tace ot the upright member d and having a curved surface corresponding to the curvature et the pulley 18 and extending into close proximity thereto. rlhe delieetor is further provided with the linger 129 ot a. width substantially less than the distance between the spaced barbs 47. Thus when the barbs reach the position shown in Figure 12, the linger will project between the chain T and the strap, consequently disengaging the latter from the barbs. The strap will then be f conveyed around the pulley 18 between the belts 2O and 23 and discharged from the machine thoroughly dried. 1n order to insure a thorough drying ot the straps l provide a housing 130 and a suitable heating unit, herein shown as a gas pipe 131 positioned within the housing. As shown in Figure i the housing is secured to the base 2 oi the machine and entends over the lower portion ot the conveyor chain 7, thus completely encasing the belts 2O and 23.

Tffhile it is believed that the operation of the machine will be thoroughly understood trom the foregoing description, a briet outline thereof will be given. A strap is ted into the machine until the forward edge engages the spring-influenced dogs e8 and e9 and is held in this position until the barbs 4T carried by the conveyor chain 7 pierce the edge et the strap and convey the same with the assistance of the power driven roll 13 into engagement with the cutters 5G and 57 for trimming the opposite sides et the strap. The strap is then ted through the burnishing wheels, which, as set lortli above, rotate at a substantially greater speed than the speed ot the strap. Thus the edges ot the latter are adequately polished and rounded preparatory to receiving the dye which is applied to the edges ot' the strap by the disks 97 rotating at a substantially slower rate ot speed than the speed of the passing strap, thus insuring a proper application ot the dye and eliminating'an'y' tendency of the dye to splatter and spot other portions of the strap. The strap is then conveyed through the housing 130 back to the front of the machine where itis detached trom the barbs l? and is passed around the pulley 18 baclr through the housing to the rear ot the machine, where it is discharged.

Vilhat 1 .claim as my invention is 1. 1n a leather strap linishing machine, the combination with a frame having a table, of cutters adjustably mounted upon opposite sides ot the table and engageable with the side edges oi' the stra-p for trimming the same, and means tor adjusting the amount of trim ot said strap including blocks pivoted upon the table and having a portion extending over the strap tor holding the same substantially flat.

2. 1n a leather strap finishing machine, the combination wit-h a Jframe having a table, ot' means tor feeding the strap through the machine including chain having barbs integral with and projecting upwardly from one ot the 'nits ot' said chain, and means arranged in ie path of travel of the strap for holding the latter in a. predetermined position to be ened by said barbs. n a leather strap finishing machine, the combination *ith a trame having a table, ot cutters mounted upon opposite sides or the table and engageable with the side edges of the strap tor trimming the same, blocks pivoted upon said table forwardly of: said cutters, and means tor adjusting said blocks to move the strap away trom said. cutters including a member engageable with the block at a pont offset from the pivotal connection thereof with the table.

e. ln a leather strap linishiiw machine, the combination with a trame having a table, ot cutters arranged in spaced relation upon opposite sides ot' said table and engageable with the opposite side edges et the strap tor trimming the same, and means exerting a yieldable pressure upon the side edges ot said strap directly opposite the cutting surfaces of said cutters for normally urging the opposite side edges ot' the strap into engagement with said cutters. y

5. 1n a leather strap finishing machine, the combination with a trame having a table, ot means tor trimming the opposite side edges ot the strap including cutters adjustably mounted upon opposite sides ot the table, rollers positioned above said strap having oppositely disposed anges engageable with the side edges of the strap opposite said cutters, and yieldable means engageable with said `llanges normally urging said strap into engagement with said critters.

6. ln a leather strap linishing machine, the combination with a trame having a table, ot cutters arranged upon opposite sides of the table and engageable with the opposite side (Y we 9 edges of the strap for trimming the same, said cutters having longitudinally extending grooves in the inner faces thereof of sullicient widthto yreceive the side edges of the strap for preventiiwv any lateral shifting ofthe strap, rolle-rs rotatively and slidably mounted above said str j having portions engageable with the uppei face of the strap to maintain the same substantially flat and having other portions eugageable with the side edges ofthe strapopposite said cutters, and `yieldable means engageablc with said rollers for normally urging said strap into engagement with said cutters.

7. In a leather strap finishing machine, the combination with a frame, of a device gc` sitioned `upon the forward end of said frame for receiving and starting a strap. said device comprising upper and lower plates spaced from each other a sufficient distance to allow the passage of said strap, and means for limiting the inward movement of said strap including spring influenced dogs pivotally mounted upon opposite sides of the lower plate. f

8. In a leatner strap finishing machine, the combination with a frame, of a device positioned upon the forward end of said frame for `receiving and starting a strap, said device comprising upper and lower plates spaced from each other a suliicient distance to allow the passage of said strap, dogs pivotally mounted upon opposite sides of said lower plate having portions extending into the path of travel of said strap, spacers positioned between said plates constituting` means for guidingsaid straps into engagement with said dogs, and yieldable means normally urging said dogs into engagement with said spacers for limiting the inward movement of said strap.

9. In a leather strap finishing machine, the combination with a. frame, of a chain for feeding the strap through the machine'having barbs integral with and projecting upwardly fromone of thelinls of said chain, a device positioned upon the forward edge of said frame for receiving and starting a strap, dogs pivotally mounted upon said device having portions extending into the path of travel of said strap, and yieldable'means engageable with said dogs normally rurging the dogs into engagement with the forward end of said strap for holding the same .in a position to be engaged by said barbs.

l0. In a leather strap finishingmachine,

the combination with a frame and means carried by the frame for feeding a strap through the machine, of a device positioned upon the forward end of said frame for receiving and starting a strap, said device comprising upper and lower plates spaced from each other a sufficient distance to allow the passage of saic strap, one of said plates having a longitudially extending slot permitting the passage of said strap, and dogs mounted upon the' last mentioned plate ou opposite sides of said slot and having porv ions extending into the path of said strapfor holding the same in a position to be enga-fred by said feeding means.

In a ,ther strap finishing machine, 'the combinacion fith a chain for feeding the through the machine having barbs in- .l with and projecting upwardly from one of the links of'said chain, of a device positioned upon the forward end of the machine for holding the strap in a position to be engaged by said barbs, and means forholding said strap substantially horizontal while being fed tlrough the machine including feable with vthe top surface of rollers engag the belt ai' l l aving circumferential grooves in the pe .fhery thereof'permitting the'pasof said, barbs.

:Ab a n of tie barbs, and means positioned upon said device for holding the forward edge of said strap over the passageways aforesaid kto be engaged by said barbs.

In a leather strap finishing machine, the combination with a frame, ofmeans for f eding and guiding the strap including a sprocket wheel carried by said frame and having A,lmges engageable with the bottom surface `of said strap, and a power ydriven guide roller positioned above said flanges and engageable with the top surface of said strap substantially throughout the width thereof.

lll. In a leather strap finishing machine, Jthe combination with a frame, of means for feeding the strap through the machine including a chain carrying barbs, a sprocket wheel for said chain having flanges of substantially a greater diameter than the sprocket cngageable with the bottom surface of the strap, and a guide rollerl carried byy said frame above the sprocket wheel and cngageable with the top surface of said'strap for maintaining the same substantially flat and assisting in the initial feed of the strap, s id guide roller having ycircumferential grooves permitting the passage of said barbs.

l5. In a leather strap finishing machine, the combination with a frame having a table, of bracket bearings pivotally mounted upon said table, dyeing rollersy mounted upon said brackets, and 'troughs surrounding said rollers and carried by said bracket hearings.

16. In a leather strap nishing machine,

In a leather strap finishingmachine,

the combination With a frame having a table, of bracket bearings pivotally mounted upon said table, troughs positioned upon said bracket bearings, rollers rotatably mounted Within said troughs and engageable with the opposite side edges of' the strap, said troughs having depressed portions adapted to contain dye, and means positioned Within said depressed portion for distributing the dye upon the periphery of the. rollers aforesaid.

17. In a leather strap finishing machine, the combination with a frame having a table, of bracket bearings pivotally mounted upon said table, troughs positioned upon said bracket bearings, rollers rotatably mounted Within said troughs and having an absorbent rim engageable With the opposite side edges of the strap, said troughs having depressed portions adjacent to said rollers adapted to contain dye, and members arranged Within said .depressed portion and engageable with the rollers aforesaid for distributing the dye on the periphery of said rollers.

c 18. In a leather strap finishing machi e, the combination with a frame and means for conveying a strap through the machine, of a cutter carried by the frame and engageable with the strap to trim the same, and roller also carried by the frame and engageable With the strap to guide the same during' the trimming operation, said roller being capable of movement transversely of the strap and having a portion engageable with one edge thereof to normally urge the opposite edge into engagement With said cutter.

Y 19. In a leather strap finishing machine, the combination with a frame, of a conveyor carried by said frame for feeding the strap through the machine, and means secured to the frame adjacent the receiving end thereof for limiting the initial feed of the strap and for holding the same in a predete 1mined position to be engaged by the conveyor.

20. In a leather strap finishing machine, the combination With a frame, of a conveyor mounted upon said frame for feeding the strap through the machine and means secured to the frame adjacent the receiving end thereof for limiting the extent ofinitial feed of the strap and for holding the same in position to be engaged by the conveyor, said means including a pivotal member having a. portion normally disposed in the pafn of travel of the strap.

21. In a leather strap finishing machine, the combination with a frame, of means positioned upon said frame for feeding a strap through the machine including a chain and a sprocket Wheel therefor, said sprocket Wheel having' flanges at the sides thereof e3:- tending beyond the chain and engageable with the strap to guide the same.

22. In a leather strap nishing machine, the combination With a frame, of means for feeding a. strap through the machine including a chain and sprocket Wheel therefor, said sprocket Wheel having portions extending beyond the chain and engageable with one side of the strap, and a member carried by the frame above the sprocket Wheel aforesaid and arranged to engage the opposite side of the strap.

23. In a leather strap iinishing'machine, the combination With a frame, and means carried thereby for conveying a strap through the machine, of a bracket bearing carried by the frame, means for applying a fluid to the edges of said strap including a roll ournalled Within said bracket bearing, and a trough mounted upon said bracket bearing and surrounding said roll and having a portion engageable with the strap to guide the same.

2a. In a leather strap finishing machine, the combination with a frame and means carried thereby for conveying a strap through the machine, of bracket bearings carried by said frame and disposed upon opposite sides of said strap, means for applying a iiuid to the opposite edges of the strap including rolls journalled Within said bracket bearings, and troughs secured to the bracket bearings and surrounding said rolls` said troughs having upwardly extending flanges at the inner edges thereof engageable with the strap adjacent the opposite side edges thereof for guiding and supporting the same during the dyeing operation.

25. In a leather strap iinishing machine. the combination with a frame and means carried by the frame for feeding a strap through the machine, of a bracket bearing carried by the frame, means for applying a fluid to the side edges of the strap including a roller mounted upon said bracket bearing and engageable With the side edges of the strap, and a trough also mounted upon said bracket bearing and surrounding said roller.

26. In a leather strap finishing machine, the combination with a frame and means carried thereby for feeding a strap through the machine, of a pivotally mounted bracket bearing carried by said frame. means for applying a iiuid to the side edges of the strap including a member rotatably mounted upon said bra ck- `et bearing, a trough carried by said bracket 

